diff --git a/scripts/apply_obs_op_dart.py b/scripts/apply_obs_op_dart.py
index 6939ad6e1ccfb4758f5659b0e543fcce722e197b..4563598a47d544826bbfc2b69c11c49a9c929a0c 100755
--- a/scripts/apply_obs_op_dart.py
+++ b/scripts/apply_obs_op_dart.py
@@ -32,10 +32,7 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 
     savedir = cluster.archivedir+'/obs_seq_final_1min/'
 
-    first_obscfg = exp.observations[0]
-    aso.set_DART_nml(cov_loc_radius_km=first_obscfg['cov_loc_radius_km'],
-                        cov_loc_vert_km=first_obscfg.get('cov_loc_vert_km', False), 
-                        just_prior_values=True)
+    aso.set_DART_nml(just_prior_values=True)
     osq.create_obsseqin_alltypes(time, exp.observations, obs_errors=False)
 
     # prepare dummy nature (this Hx is irrelevant)
@@ -49,33 +46,3 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     # only the prior state values are of interest in this file
     # observation and truth is wrong in this file (dummy)
     aso.archive_osq_final(time, posterior_1min=True)
-
-    # sys.exit()  # multi stage below
-    # n_stages = len(exp.observations)
-    # for istage, obscfg in enumerate(exp.observations):
-
-    #     n_obs = obscfg['n_obs']
-    #     sat_channel = obscfg.get('sat_channel', False)
-    #     obscfg['folder_obs_coords'] = False
-
-    #     aso.set_DART_nml(cov_loc_radius_km=obscfg['cov_loc_radius_km'],
-    #                      cov_loc_vert_km=obscfg.get('cov_loc_vert_km', False), 
-    #                      just_prior_values=True)
-
-    #     osq.create_obsseq_in(time, obscfg)
-
-
-
-    #     # prepare dummy nature (this Hx is irrelevant)
-    #     os.chdir(cluster.dartrundir)
-    #     os.system('cp ./advance_temp1/wrfout_d01 ./wrfout_d01')
-    #     wrfout_add_geo.run(cluster.dartrundir+'/geo_em.d01.nc',
-    #                        cluster.dartrundir+'/wrfout_d01')
-    #     aso.run_perfect_model_obs()
-    #     aso.assimilate(nproc=96)
-
-    #     # only the prior state values are of interest in this file
-    #     # observation and truth is wrong in this file (dummy)
-    #     archive_stage = savedir+'/assim_stage'+str(istage)
-    #     aso.archive_diagnostics(archive_stage, time)
-